Varanasi Urban Ropeway (Cantt – Godowlia)वाराणसी रोपवे (कैंट – गोदौलिया)
India's first urban public-transport ropeway: 3.75 km and five stations from Varanasi Cantt railway station to Godowlia, near the Vishwanath temple, in about 16 minutes. Foundation laid 24 March 2023; trial runs on the Cantt–Rathyatra stretch began in 2025. An official inspection on 28 September 2026 put physical work above 94%; the administration aims to start public operations on 24 November 2026, subject to readiness and not yet officially confirmed.
Timeline
Foundation 24 March 2023 · Trial runs from 2025 · >94% complete (inspection 28 September 2026) · operations targeted for 24 November 2026 (not confirmed)
How to reach
- 0.2 km from Varanasi Junction (Cantt) station in a straight line
- 18.8 km from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in a straight line
- 2.9 km from Godowlia crossing, where cars stop for the old city in a straight line
Straight-line distances; by road through the lanes it is further.
Sources: Swarajya — Varanasi's urban ropeway reaches over 94% completion; UP Planning Secretary and DM inspect, operations targeted for 24 November (30 Sep 2026) · ANI — Varanasi Divisional Commissioner conducts surprise on-site inspection of ropeway project (12 Sep 2026) · Amar Ujala — Trial of 148 ropeway gondolas, Cantt to Godowlia in 16 minutes (25 Aug 2026) · Times Now Hindi — Varanasi urban ropeway: trials under way, fares and opening (Sep 2026) · Kashi Official Web Portal — Ropeway: as a project · Wikipedia — Kashi ropeway · Urban Transport News — Trial run commences for first urban ropeway in Varanasi
